USS California Returns to Fleet Ahead of Schedule

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) returned USS California (SSN 781) back to the fleet 14 days ahead of schedule June 30, following a maintenance availability.

PSNY’s team of maintenance experts applied lessons learned from USS Topeka’s (SSN 754) engineered overhaul to assist in returning California to the fleet ahead of schedule to meet the Navy’s mission requirements.

“From the safely executed docking evolutions to our machine shop successfully manufacturing cap screws the last day of in-dock time, PNSY showed why it is the Navy’s center of excellence for fast-attack submarine maintenance,” said Capt. William Greene, PNSY commander. “The PNSY workforce proudly executes their mission so that in a moment’s notice, these submarines can go in harm’s way, defeat enemies in war and return their crews home safely – that commitment to excellence was clearly demonstrated on the early completion of California.”

California and its crew of 15 officers and more than 115 enlisted personnel arrived at PNSY June 8 for a maintenance availability slated to last 36 days.

“We were able to accomplish a great deal during the dry dock period and increase our material readiness for deployment,” said Cmdr. Shawn Huey, California’s commanding officer. “The pride, professionalism and ownership are evident at PNSY. The shipyard did a superb job in executing this critical work.”

California is the eighth Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarine designed to excel in both deep water and shallow littoral region missions. Commissioned Oct. 29, 2011, California is homeported in Groton, Connecticut.

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Press Release, July 11, 2014; Image: US Navy